Page:Complete history of the late Mexican war.djvu/54

50 at the mouth of the river, mounting seven guns. The first division consisting of the Reefer and Bonita, towed by the Vixen, crossed the bar and engaged with the battery. The second division consisted of the Nonata Forward and Petrel, towed by the Mc'Lane. The steamer run aground, and the others could not be towed over. Commodore Connor thought it would be useless to go forward with one division and retired. Oct. 16th. Commodore Perry sailed to attack: Tobasco with the Vixen, Capt. Sands, schooners Bonita, Berham. Reefer, Sterret, Nonata, and Hazard, schooner Forward, Capt. Nones, and steamer Mc'Lane, Capt. Howard. Capt. Forest had a command of about 200 marines and sailors. He crossed the bar Oct. 23rd, and took, withuot resistance, Frontera, capturing two steamers, and all the vessels in port. Tobasco is seventy-four miles up the river from Frontera. Our forces reached Fort Aceachappa, commanding a difficult pass in the river, Oct. 25th, and spiked the cannon, the enemy having left the fort. The vessels were all before Tobasco on the same day, about noon. The town was summoned to surrender, but it refused. The boats soon captured five merchant vessels. The vessels fired upon the town, and Capt. Forest, with his command was ordered to advance into the city. There was a sharp engagement, and the command were ordered back at night. At the desire of the foreign merchants the town was spared. On the 26th they left with their prizes. One, under Lieut. Parker, grounded and was fired upon, but Parker defended it and got the vessel off, with one man killed and two wounded. Lieutenant Morris was wounded in carrying a message to Lieut. Parker, and died November 1st.

This expedition captured two steamers and seven vessels. Nov. 12th, Commodore Connor sailed for Tampico, with a considerable part of the squadron, and on the 14fh the city